Passport changes

[drron]

Changes may come on 30/6/17.AusPost contract expires then so maybe a lot of changes-

Australia Post’s contract with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is due to expire at the end of June 2017 and the Federal Government is looking at alternative providers

You may no longer be able to apply for a passport at Australia Post

The government is also considering the introduction of passport-free travel to New Zealand with both countries able to use virtual “cloud passports”.

 

[RooFlyer]

I went to Aust Post a week or so ago to get non 'standard' photos for an Indian visa done - had to be 2" square and specifically composed. I was impressed that they entered the country in question into the camera and it brought up the composition guides on the screen (ie head here; shoulders here ... ) and printed out pics of the correct dimensions, and I could get the image e-mailed to me! Perfect for e-visa applications.

I think they'll find it hard to get a provider with the spread of facilities as AP - but then again, convenience of the punters isn't probably high on their list of criteria!

 

[Skyring]

I went to Aust Post a week or so ago to get non 'standard' photos for an Indian visa done - had to be 2" square and specifically composed. I was impressed that they entered the country in question into the camera and it brought up the composition guides on the screen (ie head here; shoulders here ... )

There's only one standard arrangement, surely?

Pete, bending over backwards for travel

 

[Buzzard]

I went to Aust Post a week or so ago to get non 'standard' photos for an Indian visa done - had to be 2" square and specifically composed. I was impressed that they entered the country in question into the camera and it brought up the composition guides on the screen (ie head here; shoulders here ... ) and printed out pics of the correct dimensions, and I could get the image e-mailed to me! Perfect for e-visa applications.

I think they'll find it hard to get a provider with the spread of facilities as AP - but then again, convenience of the punters isn't probably high on their list of criteria!

Quite frankly the Post system is poor. The list of countries is lacking, most PO's have lighting issues, trying to obtain acceptable digital photos for the US is difficult, you can't obtain a digital copy without a printed copy. Having tried to tell Post how their system could be improved falls on deaf ears.

 

[JohnM]

Quite frankly the Post system is poor. The list of countries is lacking, most PO's have lighting issues, trying to obtain acceptable digital photos for the US is difficult, you can't obtain a digital copy without a printed copy. Having tried to tell Post how their system could be improved falls on deaf ears.

Hrrmmph! Went to an AP outlet today to get a photo for an Indian visa. Four goes to get it right. Unlike RF, nothing in the camera to set to 'India mode'; guy says he can do it on the screen. Printed images seem OK but get home and waiting, waiting... for the digital image he emailed while I was there. Eventually I look on the printed images and it seems he left the '.au' off my address :evil:. Google the AP outlet to get a phone number to call them. No such thing :evil:. Fax number only (WTF is a fax ). Now have to go back tomorrow to get it sorted. Slightly p!ssed off!

 

[leadman]

I get mine done at the indian visa office in Melbourne. I got two and they have lasted me 6 years worth of visas.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I went to Aust Post a week or so ago to get non 'standard' photos for an Indian visa done - had to be 2" square and specifically composed. I was impressed that they entered the country in question into the camera and it brought up the composition guides on the screen (ie head here; shoulders here ... ) and printed out pics of the correct dimensions, and I could get the image e-mailed to me! Perfect for e-visa applications.

I think they'll find it hard to get a provider with the spread of facilities as AP - but then again, convenience of the punters isn't probably high on their list of criteria!

The india e visa is a digital pic you can do it on your phone yourself at home.

 

[RooFlyer]

Quite frankly the Post system is poor. The list of countries is lacking, most PO's have lighting issues, trying to obtain acceptable digital photos for the US is difficult, you can't obtain a digital copy without a printed copy. Having tried to tell Post how their system could be improved falls on deaf ears.

Well, that's the last time I give Aust Post a positive rap

The india e visa is a digital pic you can do it on your phone yourself at home.

I went for an 'ordinary' visa, but still needed to upload a pic to be included on the form you send in. I could have done it on my phone as well (or I could have cropped an existing photo), but when it comes to visas I err on the side of caution, even if it costs a bit more.

 

[JohnM]

The india e visa is a digital pic you can do it on your phone yourself at home.

They seemed so pedantic about requirements I also thought I'd err on the side of caution and use Aus Post to take the pic after RFs experience. It will be fine when I can get them to email it correctly . Lovely staff at the PO but turned out to be bumblers.

Also, the e-visa has an arrival window of 4-30 days from application, so is not suitable for my requirements as the India visit will be some weeks into a DONE5. I don't fancy trying to apply for an e-visa while on the road so I'd rather get a 'standard' visa.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Fair enough about being on the road while applying but the Indian e-visa is very easy and have applied for myself and a few others now and just did the pics myself on the phone. I know the photo requirements for the physical visa in passport are strict but they are not the same for the evisa, which I found a simple and efficient process (visa granted within 48 hours). Anyway, straying a bit off topic

 

[UP4014]

Quite frankly the Post system is poor. The list of countries is lacking, most PO's have lighting issues, trying to obtain acceptable digital photos for the US is difficult, you can't obtain a digital copy without a printed copy. Having tried to tell Post how their system could be improved falls on deaf ears.

Quite frankly the Post system is pretty good, I've never had any issues with prompt and curtious service.

Matt

 

[Buzzard]

Hrrmmph! Went to an AP outlet today to get a photo for an Indian visa. Four goes to get it right. Unlike RF, nothing in the camera to set to 'India mode'; guy says he can do it on the screen. Printed images seem OK but get home and waiting, waiting... for the digital image he emailed while I was there. Eventually I look on the printed images and it seems he left the '.au' off my address :evil:. Google the AP outlet to get a phone number to call them. No such thing :evil:. Fax number only (WTF is a fax ). Now have to go back tomorrow to get it sorted. Slightly p!ssed off!

And when you go back they will have to take your photo again. They cannot just email it again. Even if you went back seconds later they would have to take, print and email again.

Quite frankly the Post system is pretty good, I've never had any issues with prompt and curtious service.

Matt

The staff may be fabulous, prompt and courteous but that's all IMHO. Unfortunately the staff at the PO have no say in the workings of the system.

 

[docjames]

mrsdoc had to go back to Auspost 4 times in order to sort out photos and paperwork for new passport for minidoc2 and renewed passport for minidoc1.

Ironically (well after the fact, not at the time!) she came home after the second visit (knowing there was a third coming!) and described the tears of the women ahead of her in the queue who'd been back 5 times sorting out issues.

You can guess how mrsdoc was by halfway through the 4th visit when they tried to tell her there was an issue (which there wasn't - as she pointed out in the paperwork they provided!!)


The sooner it's all handled by someone else the better.

 

[JohnM]

And when you go back they will have to take your photo again. They cannot just email it again. Even if you went back seconds later they would have to take, print and email again.

The staff may be fabulous, prompt and courteous but that's all IMHO. Unfortunately the staff at the PO have no say in the workings of the system.

Sure enough, had to take the photo again. It turns out that the system cannot handle a tri-level email address like [email protected][B].au[/B] so the message went nowhere - but it doesn't show as a bounce so they have no idea it's failed. WTF:shock:. Seriously? :evil:. There is no way they can email it to you unless you have a bi-level address. Fortunately I have a web-based backup address. Unbelievable.

 

[Buzzard]

mrsdoc had to go back to Auspost 4 times in order to sort out photos and paperwork for new passport for minidoc2 and renewed passport for minidoc1.

Ironically (well after the fact, not at the time!) she came home after the second visit (knowing there was a third coming!) and described the tears of the women ahead of her in the queue who'd been back 5 times sorting out issues.

You can guess how mrsdoc was by halfway through the 4th visit when they tried to tell her there was an issue (which there wasn't - as she pointed out in the paperwork they provided!!)


The sooner it's all handled by someone else the better.

That may not help as what you are describing is an operator error that shows their personal lack of skill.

Sure enough, had to take the photo again. It turns out that the system cannot handle a tri-level email address like [email protected][B].au[/B] so the message went nowhere - but it doesn't show as a bounce so they have no idea it's failed. WTF:shock:. Seriously? :evil:. There is no way they can email it to you unless you have a bi-level address. Fortunately I have a web-based backup address. Unbelievable.

Well I did say the system was cough a few post's up.

Also, how does the system know the difference between .com.au and .net.au.
I don't understand why the .net is a tri-level address

 

[JohnM]

I don't understand why the .net is a tri-level address

What I meant was the difference, for example, between [email protected] (2 levels - sub-domain, domain) and [email protected] (3 levels - sub-domain, domain, country).

Probably not expressed in correct geek-talk. As far as I know, bigpond.com and bigpond.net.au are quite different, although both are to do with Telstra (maybe the .net.au is an older version as I've had the bigpond.net.au address for yonks). I've been a Telstra customer for years before that and when I signed up for email, the .net.au address is what I was given.

 

[JohnM]

What I meant was the difference, for example, between [email protected] (2 levels - sub-domain, domain) and [email protected] (3 levels - sub-domain, domain, country).

Probably not expressed in correct geek-talk. As far as I know, bigpond.com and bigpond.net.au are quite different, although both are to do with Telstra (maybe the .net.au is an older version as I've had the bigpond.net.au address for yonks). I've been a Telstra customer for years before that and when I signed up for email, the .net.au address is what I was given.

I might add that many, if not all, state (and local) government email addresses have 4 'levels'. eg. my brother is a police officer in WA. His email address goes like this: [email protected].

For the AusPost system to not recognise more than two levels in an email address is truly bizarre.

 

[serfty]

There is more than one type of EIS system at PO's - some are hand held, some are fixed.

The results can vary from that iself, let alone the competence of the operator.

Last year it was a separate system, since earlier this year they have integrated the peripherals into the main system, doing away with one computer.

 

[docjames]

That may not help as what you are describing is an operator error that shows their personal lack of skill.

Times 2 Auspost stores (the first one didn't take the photo correctly so the second one rejected the photos - even when pointed out they were taken by Auspost.)

So IMO the alternative is unlikely to be worse. But i'm sure they can find a way.

 

[DC3]

.... The sooner it's all handled by someone else the better.

Maybe Centrelink or CommBank could take it on. Or somewhere similar that you could drive to in less than a day, say. ðŸ